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Sunday, April 02, 2017

I always leave the easiest card for last in my class!! For these cards I sorted through my scraps and cut a wide variety of strips both in length (at least 5.5") and width. Next, I set aside 7-8 that coordinated for each card kit. I put the strips into envelopes and next created the greetings so they would coordinate with the strips printing them on ivory or white cardstock. I trimmed the individual greeting and added them to the envelopes. Next, I cut white and ivory layers - 4" x 5.25" -to coordinate with the greetings and put them into the envelopes. Next, I chose a card front that coordinated with what I had already prepared and added them along with an insert to the envelopes. Finally, I created custom embellishments using my punches along with sequins or rhinestones for the kits!! It was fun to see them all come together and how well all the pieces worked together. This card had the most flexibility in layout. The stripes could be glued at an angle below or above the greeting from left to right or right to left, OR they could be glued vertically above or below a horizontal greeting, OR they could be glued horizontally above or below a horizontal greeting, OR they could be glued vertically above or below an angled greeting!! It was fun to experiment with all the options. Once a layout was chosen the strips and greeting were glued to the neutral layer, trimmed to the edge and glued to the card front. The little embellishment was adhered where desired on the card using 3D foam tape. Again, there were a wide variety of layouts created beyond what I had laid out as ideas by the creative bunch of cardmakers - some complete newbies who learned quickly and executed their cards very well.
We had a wonderful time and lots of beautiful cards were created!!!
Therese

For my next card, I decided to feature decorative paper in hopes of reducing my stash!! Not even dented!!

I cut the decorative paper 3.75" x 5" and made two cuts - one in each direction and when the pieces were glued to the next layer it created a cross as the lower colour showed through. I discovered that once cut the pieces provide a puzzle to be solved before they can be glued in place!! I chose to layer my circle greeting over the intersection of the lines but the creative ones at class chose many more options in both the cutting and the layout of these cards!! The circle greetings were laser printed on white or ivory and punched with a 1.75" circle punch (SU). They were layered onto scalloped circles which were die cut from coordinating cardstock using my Nestibilities. I found most of these round greetings at Netty's cards. She has a really good variety and some for every occasion. The little turtle one is very cute and the floral element were found on line but I do not have a record of where I found them. Therese

When I was preparing the kits for this class I came across this beautiful handmade paper! It was very thick and therefore I set it aside because it would not glue well. Yesterday, I created a card with it. I cut the elements and stitched them in place instead of using glue. That works very well!! I love stitching handmade paper!! I stitched the center to the flower then the border to the background paper. I positioned the flower, situated the leaves and stitched them into place. I repositioned the flower and stitched all around the center to anchor it to the background. I positioned the greeting and stitched it into place as well. Lastly, I stitched this large element to the front of an ivory card!! LOVE IT!! Therese

I just taught a cardmaking class featuring all occasion cards as a fundraiser!! The two classes went very well and I had some very creative participants who were not at all afraid to do their own thing so there was a wide variety of cards produced from the kits I prepared. It is one of the very best things about teaching is that others will create with the supplies you provide things you would never have thought of doing!! So much fun!!!
For this set of cards I decided to continue the theme I started with my middle of the week class and feature my own handmade paper.

So I trimmed down my handmade paper to 4" x 5.25" and glued it down with a generous layer of regular glue to a neutral card - white or ivory. Handmade paper is very textured and requires a substantial amount of glue to be effective. I die cut two different borders for the cards using a large Sizzix die. You can see one of on these cards. The other was a little zigzag. The borders were glued to the cards using regular glue. The large focal elements were layered & glued if need be and then glued over the border. The little coordinating laser printed greeting punchies (SU) were also glued in place.

The cards really need some pressing to ensure a good adhesion of all the layers so I recommended that they be set under weight when they got them home.
I created several focal elements - hearts, flowers, leaves and butterflies which were cut from coordinating handmade paper. The flower were embellished die cut centers, the hearts had an extra little heart cut from cardstock, the butteflies had tied cording which created a body and antennae and the leaves had knotted twine as an accent.
I really love handmade paper and am glad that I decided to check out the papers I had in my boxes. I will continue to feature handmade paper on my cards as time goes on!!! Will consider making more this summer when the weather outside is warm and sunny and the sheets can dry outside.
Therese

These two cards were created using the most beautiful card full of shimmery gold and roses!! I trimmed off the front and turn it over onto the back inside which had the stripes and that worked well for a background. For the first card, I created a focal element using a floral background from Artsy bee on Pixabay combining it with a vintage rose image from Clipartfox and a font greeting which I then printed it onto ivory cardstock. After trimming I layered it onto green. I glued the two layers of my background together, added a pink organza ribbon across the width and layered on my focal element with 3D foam tape. I tied on a short length of ribbon to the one on the card using a single knot to simulate a bow. I layered this large element to a pink card.

For my second card, I created the background with the ribbon in the same manner and glued it to a light pink card. The rose focal element I fussy cut from the front flap of the original card and glued it over the ribbon using 3D foam tape. I sponged the edges of a punchie greeting with green and pink and adhered it just below the focal element over the ribbon with 3D foam tape. Beautiful!!

About Me

Welcome!!
I am a paper crafter that enjoys creating cards and working on a wide variety of paper projects including handmade paper, paper decorating and altered books. I am exploring mixed media and collage with a view of using my own photographs and art in my projects. Recently, I have branched out into a bit of fabric and stitching.
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